November 9, 2009

I’m delighted to announce that the College Basketball Prospectus 2009-10: Major-Conference Preview is now available for purchase as a pdf. For the low-low price of $7.95 you can download the best preview available anywhere of the ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, Pac-10, and SEC.

Want it as a “real book”? In a few days you’ll be able to order your glossy-cover version of the CBP for just $16.95 plus shipping and handling.

I’m also pleased to reveal the identity of the august figure who contributed our Foreword. Since hinting a couple weeks ago that we’d have a surprise guest dropping by, I’ve received guesses ranging from Pat Summitt all the way to Renardo Sidney (“Assuming he’s still not eligible”).

In fact our surprise guest star is none other than ESPN’s own Jay Bilas. Speaking purely as a hoops fan, I’ve long thought Jay was one of the most informative college analysts in the business. Then last year, after hearing him repeatedly and correctly deploy the term “efficient,” I began to suspect he might be following what we do over here at Prospectus. Sure enough, my people lunched with his people and here we are. In this brief and gracious Foreword the former Duke star praises the mode of analysis pioneered by North Carolina coach Dean Smith. Yes, at Prospectus we are all about bringing people together.

Note that if you want to kick the tires a bit before you decide to buy the CBP, we’re offering a complete team preview for your inspection. And if by chance you’re an Oklahoma fan, you’re really in luck. The preview of your team is free. Have at it and remember me this holiday season.

When purchasing the pdf you’ll be ushered into the Baseball Prospectus store, where, if you haven’t done so already, you’ll want to sign up for a BP basic (free) account. Signing up is quick and painless, plus it will come in handy for you down the road as a reader of the Hoops Prospectus.

In no time you’ll be lapping up what Ken Pomeroy has to say about Washington (“Nationally it was completely missed in the blur of possessions that the Huskies crammed into each contest, but the Dawgs were a defensive force”), what Dan Hanner has to say about Syracuse (“I’m not quite ready to anoint Wesley Johnson as the best player on this team”), or, heck, even what I have to say about Kentucky. “My prediction: John Wall will….”